Salvation in Darkness Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Nicole Edwards Book list

  Dedication

  Copyright

  Dictionary

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About Nicole Edwards

  Nicole Edwards on Smashwords

  Salvation in Darkness

  MISPLACED HALOS, 2

  NICOLE EDWARDS

  BY NICOLE EDWARDS

  ALLURING INDULGENCE

  Kaleb

  Zane

  Travis

  Holidays with the Walker Brothers

  Ethan

  Braydon

  Sawyer

  Brendon

  THE WALKERS OF COYOTE RIDGE

  Curtis

  Jared

  Hard to Hold

  Hard to Handle

  Beau

  Rex

  A Coyote Ridge Christmas

  Mack

  AUSTIN ARROWS

  Rush

  Kaufman

  CLUB DESTINY

  Conviction

  Temptation

  Addicted

  Seduction

  Infatuation

  Captivated

  Devotion

  Perception

  Entrusted

  Adored

  Distraction

  DEAD HEAT RANCH

  Boots Optional

  Betting on Grace

  Overnight Love

  DEVIL’S BEND

  Chasing Dreams

  Vanishing Dreams

  MISPLACED HALOS

  Protected in Darkness

  Salvation in Darkness

  OFFICE INTRIGUE

  Office Intrigue

  Intrigued Out of the Office

  Their Rebellious Submissive

  Their Famous Dominant

  Their Ruthless Sadist

  Their Naughty Student

  Their Fairy Princess

  PIER 70

  Reckless

  Fearless

  Speechless

  Harmless

  Clueless

  SNIPER 1 SECURITY

  Wait for Morning

  Never Say Never

  Tomorrow’s Too Late

  SOUTHERN BOY MAFIA/DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND

  Beautifully Brutal

  Without Regret

  Beautifully Loyal

  Without Restraint

  STANDALONE NOVELS

  Unhinged Trilogy

  A Million Tiny Pieces

  Inked on Paper

  Bad Reputation

  Bad Business

  NAUGHTY HOLIDAY EDITIONS

  2015

  2016

  To my husband.

  Thank you for doing what is necessary for me to continue to live out my dream.

  Copyright © 2020 by Nicole Edwards Limited

  All rights reserved.

  This is a self-published title.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  Author: Nicole Edwards

  Title: Salvation in Darkness

  Series: Misplaced Halos, 2

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locals is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Details:

  Image: Front cover - © Nelli Valova (28304167)| 123rf; Angels of Darkness logo - © Nelli Valova (23506218)| 123rf; Interior image - © huhulin (20193921)| 123rf

  Design: © Nicole Edwards Limited

  Interior Details:

  Formatting: Nicole Edwards Limited

  Editing: Blue Otter Editing | BlueOtterEditing.com

  Identifiers: ISBN: 978-1-64418-019-8 (ebook) | ISBN: 978-1-64418-020-4 (paperback) | ISBN: 978-1-64418-021-1 (audio)

  Subjects: BISAC: FICTION / Fantasy / General | BISAC: FICTION / Romance / General

  MISPLACED HALOS DICTIONARY

  Terms From The Ancient Language Of Angels:

  Amnigh: intense desire, or mating heat, experienced between amsouelots.

  Amsouelot: the soul destined for another.

  Archsire and Archdam: angels who procreate specifically for angel warriors.

  Ayreme: Term of endearment meaning my greatest love.

  Dhira: the cloak of darkness initiated by warrior angels.

  Ereswa: wife

  Gathenya: the sexual energy produced when angels mate

  Heurosp: a human who works for the angels, managing the mansion

  Lintamair: ancient mating ceremony of immortals

  Neilloh: demon sent back to Earth from Hell.

  Reuthet: husband

  Sezari: term of endearment meaning sweetheart, baby.

  Angels Of Darkness Hierarchy:

  Lieterra: the right-hand of a warrior angel, tasked with tracking, doling out responsibilities, as well as performing as the warrior’s assistant.

  Ladeare: highest rank within the fiestreigh, responsible for soldiers under him.

  Fiestreigh: the legion of angels assigned to the Angels of Darkness.

  Ritarro: a position held by a Fae. It’s the equivalent to a handmaiden and a coveted role.

  Demon Hierarchy:

  Trielair: the three demons who oversee the demon factions: Eevuhl, Mizuhree, and Aguhnee.

  Mesonneir: the level of demons beneath the trielair. Equivalent to lieutenants.

  Impietan: a human turned demon by a mesonneir.

  Terms From The Ancient Language Of Vampires:

  Adighrielin: The Alpha’s advisor, his right hand. The most honorable position within the Zenith, that which is the first line of defense to the Alpha.r />
  Balisra: my love

  Dyrlom: honorific title for a male of same status

  Kirlesgun: the current Alpha’s regime

  Tresmar: honorific title meaning master, someone higher than.

  Phaal: king/alpha

  Vestrahn: housekeeper, groundskeepers, those in service to others.

  Chapter One

  Monday, August 5, 2019

  Orianna McKay wasn’t big on the social scene. Didn’t matter which city she was in, the parties and gatherings were all the same: boring, predictable, and just plain exhausting.

  Not to mention, full of horny twentysomethings looking to sate those irritating urges and find their happily ever after in the process. Wasn’t any different for the young and hip here in Telluride, Colorado. In one night, she’d witnessed more than enough let’s get it on and God, please spare us to last a lifetime, thank you very much.

  Netflix and chill—by her damn self—was more her jam. Which was exactly what she’d be doing if it weren’t for the fact she was on a mission. One that was about to calendar flip into year seven.

  Yep, six years of searching, traveling, and questioning every Tyler, Brandon, and Jacob—face it, no one named their kids Tom, Dick, or Harry anymore—with absolutely no luck. Now Orianna was just plain tired. And perhaps a bit downtrodden. After all, the only thing she had to show for her efforts was a resumé that proved she was a completely uncommitted jack of all trades.

  Thank you, Fate. Or Karma. Or whatever mystical power that kept the universe aligned. Oh, and she couldn’t forget her sister. Thanks, Amber. For nothing.

  Had it not been for her older sister taking off for parts unknown all those years ago, Orianna would’ve been back home in Texhoma, Oklahoma, vegging on Cheez-Its and Mountain Dew, watching reruns of America’s Next Top Model. Instead, she was strolling the streets of Bumfuck, Colorado, looking under every rock she could turn over to see if her sister was lurking. Unfortunately, Amber’s last known sighting was proving to be another dead end.

  But there was one more place she had to look before she could call it a night. A few more minutes and she could get back to her crappy motel and chill. Tomorrow, if she was lucky, she would be making like dust and scattering.

  “Well, look who it is,” a gruff voice sounded from behind her.

  Orianna kept walking, peering into storefronts, knowing damn well Amber wasn’t hiding out in a dusty old antique shop, but wishing she’d appear, nonetheless.

  “Hey, bitch!”

  Curious, Orianna cast a quick look over her shoulder, wondering who the asshole was talking to. Whoever it was, she hoped like hell the woman gave him what for. No man would ever talk to her that way. Not if he wanted to keep his twig and berries intact.

  “Yeah. I’m talkin’ to you. Come back here.”

  Instinct had her legs slowing though she probably should’ve been moving faster. Single woman out late at night wasn’t the smartest move, but Orianna had long ago learned her sister was a night owl, and if she was going to track her down, it would likely be when the creeps were trolling.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Where you been, Amber?”

  Orianna came to an abrupt halt, spinning around to study the man who clearly thought she was her sister.

  “I been waitin’ for you to show your face. You lookin’ for Daddy Dearest?”

  It wasn’t the first time she’d been mistaken for her sister. Since they both had blond hair and blue eyes, Orianna could see how someone might think she was Amber.

  From a distance.

  In the dark.

  Without their glasses.

  Truth was, Orianna looked nothing like her older sister aside from their fair coloring. While Amber was short, Orianna was all leg, clocking in at five foot six. While Amber had a round face and a cute button nose, Orianna’s was all angles. Then again, if she wasn’t ten pounds underweight, perhaps she’d have full cheeks, too.

  Good news was, Orianna seemed to be in the right place. Maybe. She should’ve known Amber would be hot on Erik’s heels. Chasing their deadbeat father to the ends of the earth was Amber’s favorite pastime. Her older sister had been following his breadcrumbs since she was old enough to drive.

  “I was wondering if you’d ever show your face here again. It’s been a long time, sweetheart. You find him yet?” the asshat asked.

  Assuming he was talking about her father, and not sure how to answer, Orianna kept her expression blank, waited for him to get closer. As soon as he did, she realized how foolhardy her curiosity was. Before she could ask him how he knew Amber, the asshole pounced, throwing one skinny arm around her neck and jerking her backward.

  Orianna shrieked, attempting to keep her feet beneath her as he cut off her airway in his effort to drag her into a dark alley. Her mouth opened, lungs filling as she prepared to scream when he rammed something into her kidney.

  “Don’t you dare scream, Amber,” he hissed, his foul breath wafting into her sinuses. “I’ll shoot you where you stand. Dear old Dad won’t be too happy about that, will he?”

  Nor would she, but that was moot, wasn’t it?

  Rather than punch him in the balls and elbow him in the nose, Orianna whimpered, effectively swallowing the scream before it escaped. Clearly this was a case of mistaken identity, but she got the feeling he didn’t care if she was Amber or not. As long as she was a McKay, he would likely be happy.

  “I figured for sure Daddy would keep a better eye on his little girl, so imagine my surprise when there you were.” He dragged her back a few more steps, then shoved her away, snagging her wrist, the momentum sending her spinning around. Orianna’s back hit the wall, her breath escaping in a whoosh as his hand locked onto her throat. The matte black gun shifted from her midsection to the center of her chest.

  Of course the idiot was holding the nine mil like a gangster, all crooked and at the perfect angle for the shell casing to hit him square in the face. Not that it would matter. The bullet would no doubt hit its target—her—from this close.

  “Not sure why he never mentioned how pretty you are,” he crooned, his calloused thumb grazing her chin.

  Okay, so he didn’t know Amber? If not, why the hell did he think she was her sister?

  What the fuck?

  If it hadn’t been for the fact he was the only lead she had on Amber, Orianna would’ve laid waste to the bastard. Instead, she feigned an innocence she’d long since shed.

  At twenty-four, it wasn’t like she’d lived a long, haggard life, but considering the shit she’d endured, that warped sense of expectancy and faith had long been sucked right out of her, replaced with a heaping helping of pessimism and disappointment.

  Keeping with the facade, she let her eyes go wide, ensured there was a slight tremble in her voice when she said, “What do you want?”

  “To warn your father,” he snarled. “He owes me quite a bit of money, sweetheart. Makes me angry when he tries to hide from me.”

  His gaze dropped down to her chest, and she didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking. There was evil in his eyes, highlighted by the sneer on his mouth and punctuated by the fowl stench of his breath.

  “Though a conversation could cover it, I’m thinking something a bit more … tangible.”

  He squeezed her throat and she had to force her arms to remain at her sides. The asshole had no idea how vulnerable he was right then. It would’ve taken little effort to relieve him of the gun and put him flat on his back, balls lodged somewhere in the vicinity of his sinus cavity. After all, Krav Maga had been the only class she’d paid much attention to in high school.

  Except she needed answers, so she would handle this. Easy peasy. After all, she’d found herself in worse situations before.

  Orianna added wild-eyed terror to her expression. “I don’t know where he is.”

  “No matter. Once I’m done with you, he’ll find me.”

  She glared at him, two seconds away from putting him out of his misery
when his hand shifted from her throat to her jaw. Orianna saw stars momentarily when her not-so-thick skull high-fived the brick at her back. The move rang her bell enough to have her losing her edge, her brain rattling inside her head, white lights flashing behind her eyes.

  “Bet you’ll be nice and sweet, huh?” He leaned in, sniffed her.

  Could he be anymore cliché?

  “Fuck you,” she snapped.

  His laugh reminded her of a hyena. “Got some backbone in there, do you? I look forward to beating it out of you. But first, perhaps we’ll have a little fun.”

  When he shoved his hand between her legs, Orianna’s muscles tensed, her weight shifting to her heels, arms bracing to send him flying, but before she could, he jerked away, stumbling in his cheap-ass loafers as though pulled by some invisible force.

  From deep within the alley, a man appeared, his larger-than-life body stepping into the halo of light cast by the streetlamp. He walked with the grace of a jungle predator and the menace of death. She couldn’t see his eyes because they were shielded by dark shades, but she knew he was focused on her attacker.

  “You better back off, man,” the gun-wielding asshole warned. “I won’t hesitate to shoot you in the face.”

  “Too late.” The stranger’s deep baritone echoed through the alley. “You already hesitated.”

  Orianna considered her options. Flee the scene and risk losing the best opportunity she’d had in months of finding her sister or wait it out. She opted for the latter, continuing with the terrified routine even as she admired the beast of a man who had seemingly come to her rescue. He was massive, his shoulders so broad she wasn’t sure he was real. But to be fair, she was most impressed by the mohawk. There was something innately sexy about a man who could rock it the way this guy did.

  “Last chance,” the asshole warned.

  Her attention was divided between the two men until the midnight-haired stranger’s head canted slightly, as though he was looking her way. Something happened in that moment. Orianna felt it deep inside her. A connection, perhaps. She had never seen this man before, but there was something strangely familiar about him. As though she’d met him in a previous life or something.

  Orianna flinched when a shot rang out. She was still staring at the newcomer when the bullet slammed into him, the force sending his shoulder lurching back. He staggered but didn’t go down, white teeth flashing as he turned his attention to the asshole with the gun. Her breath lodged in her throat.